In order to get my seminary work done, I needed to scan my textbooks into the computer and then take time to read my assignments. I also scanned books from the library that I used for research assignments. In a given semester, I might scan as many as 10,000 pages. My scanning speed was affected by the amount of memory in my computer; so I found it necessary to upgrade my computer twice in the course of my seminary career in order to increase my efficiency in studying.
Even at peak efficiency, I often woke up very early in order to allow time for all this extra scanning as well as reading.
I walked to campus on days when weather and stamina allowed. I lived 1.5 miles from campus; and I hoped that the exercise would be good for me. In time, my plan didn’t work so well. My dog guide began to slow due to the onset of arthritis; and the walk that first took 35 minutes eventually took an hour. My own health problems also began to interfere with walking; and I began to pay for transportation to campus. This allowed me to make better use of my time; but it was a tremendous financial sacrifice.
In order to minimize my need for transportation, I sometimes spend the entire day on campus when I had class in the morning and evening. I used the long break in between classes to study. Other students who commuted in from out of town did the same, and we often studied in the seminary lounge. I related more easily to the commuters than I did to the students who lived on campus. I wanted to participate in social events that took place during the evenings; but it was difficult to obtain transportation to these events even living so close to campus. The pseudo-commuter lifestyle frustrated me greatly.
